Combination salt and pepper shaker



March l0. 1925'. 1,529,446

c. G. Nl-:HLs

COMBINATION SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER Filed March 20I 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. G. NHLS cGBINATIoN SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER Filed March 20, 1924 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIM/Q 'Iraq Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES CARL G. NEHLS, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINATION SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER.

Application led March 20, 1924. Serial No. 700,631.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL G. NEHLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Salt and Pepper Shakers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in salt and pepper shakers or in any combined condiment holder and has for an important object thereof the provision of a neat, readily constructed container having means for selectively delivering one of a plurality of condiments.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the parts may be readily removed for cleansing, all working parts being secured together in a single unit so that they may not become separated and lost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple device of this character having a single control plate controlling the delivery of a pluralityl of condiments and means for shifting this control plate to varied selected positions which act to always return the control plate to a position where it closes all outlets and seals the container.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure l'is a perspective view of a combination salt and pepper shaker constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 isa vertical sectional view therethrough; v

Figure '3 is a plan view thereof, the control plate being removed; Y

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure la is a section on the line 4*-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through the container and the operating mechanism; `1

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the operating mechanism detached, the cover plate of the operating mechanism being removed;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the connections of the push buttons with the shafts;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the push button detached;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing one of the bearings;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the forked levers in coacting with the control plate pin.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a container, the upper end of which is open and provided with a threaded neck 11. Interior ly the container is provided with a transversely extending division wall 13 dividing the same into two separate compartments, each adapted for the reception of condiment. Aligned with the partition wall 13 the container is provided with a groove 14:l formed in its outer wall and having in its base a reduced extension 15 co-eXtensive with the groove 14 and combining therewith to provide shoulders 16, the purpose of which will presently appear. This reduced eX- tension 15 of the groove 11 continues upn wardlyv through the neck and is provided with an offset forming a horizontally disposed shoulder 17.

Seated upon the upper end of the neck 11 is a disk 18 provided with a series of openings 19 aligning with the compartmentsy at opposite sides of the partition wall 13. Secured to the under surface of this plate is a lug 20'extending into the offset portion of the groove 15and having securedthereto at the lower end thereof the angular eX- tension 21 of a plate 22 extending downwardly into the groove 15. The lower end of this plate 22 is provided with a second angular extension 23 opposing the angular extension 21 and combining therewith to provide bearings for a pair of shafts 24 and 25 which are of slightly greater length than the plate 20 between the angular extensions thereof and have theexcess length thereof arrangedv above the upper surface of the angular extension surface 21 and between this angular extension and the lower surface of the cover plate 18. To the upper end of the shafts 24fand 25 are secured forks 26 operating in slightly different horizontal planes so that they do not interfere with one another. f

At. vertically spaced points, the shafts 24 andv25 have secured thereto lever armsv 27 Each lever arm 27 aligns with a bear'g element 28 formed on the plate 2O through which lis extended a reciprocable element 29 is transformed to arocliing inot'ionl'of the shafts 24 and 25 depending' upon which of the reciprocating elements-is-actira-ted. :The outer end of each yreciprocating,element is provided with -a push button head l32 including a flange 83 directed toward-the adjacent surface ofthe plate and `within thisfiange a spring 34 Aabuts therhead in :surrounding f 'relation to the reciprocating element and sincethe opposite ends ofthese springs 'engage the plate 20 tends to force vthis vhead outwardly. It will be seen vthat by'pusljii'i'ig the selected head 32th'e associated vshaft 24 or 25 is rocked, the reciprocating Velements 29 ybeing'disposed intermediate the shafts, "The arms connecting ythese elements to the shafts ,extend in oppositedirections and aceordingly'opposite rockingmotions of the two Vshafts are provided with vthe Y further result that `tliejforls 26 lare 'swung in op= Dositedirections. Y

VMounted upon the uppersurface of the cover plate y18 and pivo-ted to this plateat 'the' vanis thereof, isla control plate having -forinedftlierein vtwo sets of openingso so arranged 'that in one position of the plate neither set of openings is aligned lwith the openings of the cover plate 18."V llhenihowever, the `plate' islshiftedto 'either side of this position, one set `of openings will align with the openings of theplateldis'posed above one lolf theacornpartnients"of the container v'while 'the 'otliei'f-set orc-openings re- Vmains closed. This plate has projecting downwardly from its under surface a ,pin 87 extending through a slot'lS 'formed in: the

cover plate and projecting intothe opening defined bythe 'combinationof the for-hs 2G.

The forksf'are so constructed'that intheir plane of swing either of the forksV carries with itfthe pin 37' thereby shifting the plate 3io-to one of the 'open-positions', the remaining 'fork being-undisturbed by the movement of the pin and remainingfinproper position toi-receive the 'pin' when the plate returns to neutral position. In other words, the-slot ofeach 'forlnwheirthe 'fork is in normal or Y inoperativeV position, is disposed'intheplane of movement ofthe pin to receive -thisfpin #In order that theinechanisin hereinbefore described mayfbe enclosed or hidden" from view vinv the completed struct'ure,'-t`here 'is provided a` cover' pla-te or mounting bar 39 havving'properly spaced o'peni-i'ifgs forn'iedtherein'for the reception of the operating buttons 32 and having upon' that surface thereof adapted to be disposed against the' plateV 20,

.arecess receiving -airaligning v1. "ffThisffpin is'filocatedladj acentoneend offljthe and engaged with the plate 39. The lower ,endvofthe slot k1 5 is provided with a rib 43 engaging in a notch 44 formed in the lower endcf the plateBE) maintaining this end of the plate 89 in position in the slot 15 as long aslve'rticalmovement of the pla-te 39 is prevented. The plate 39 is a greater width than the plate 2O which extends into the slot 15 and this plate 39 `rests upon the shoulder `16 hereinhefore described. In order to prevent "vertical'movement of the mechanism and to lseal'the operatinginechanisin in posi tion uponthe container,- -the plate 35 is vnrade -olf'l'es'sv diameter than the cover plate 13 so that the edge of this plate is' exposed. screw cap is provided having fa flange engaging this edge to force the plate downwardly intcf engagement with the lupper surface of the container neck. This cap further engages with its lower edge against a re ducedtap'ered extensionl 46 Aformed Von the Vupper end ofthe plate 39 to wedget-his vend firmly into position aga-inst the shoulder 1 It will be obvious that all that isv necessary to removel the entire operating mechanism is to ren'iove the cap 45, this releasing all of the mechanism for upward movement and afte'r Vthe mechanism has been moved verti cally sutliciently to disengage the rib 43 froir tliesocl'et '44, thisinechairisin can be? shifted to one side and removed from-the container so that it niay be boiled or otherwise sterilized without disturbing 'the contents of the container, By pressingv on either button selected coi'idiinent can heobtained and since aligninei'it of the apertures 1s obtained by oscillation of the controlV plate 4about its pivot, this oscillation will tend torelcasc nany clo'ggy7 inatter engaged in the openings, lpartieula'rly as@ the openings of the cover "plate lSareniad'e larger at tli'ei'rglow'erends strucforth, structrol' pla'te'niounted for oscillation uponthe upper surface of the cover plate and having sets ofV openings selectively alignable withfthe openings of the cover plate when the control plate is shifted to opposite sides ofa central neutral position,v a pair ofllevers engaging theV gontrol plate and each operjable to shiftgthe control' plate to yone side of-said neutral position and push buttons controlling the operation o v,the levers,I said levers being disposed! atthef-opposi'tesideof the cover plate from the control plate and each having a slot, said control plate having a pin extending through a slot in said cover plate for engagement in the slots of said levers and means normally maintaining said levers in a position with the slots thereof opening upon the path of movement of the pin of the control plate whereby the slot of each lever receives the pin when returned to neutral position by the other lever.

2. In combination, a condiment containerl formed to provide two compartments, a cover plate sealing the container and having openings aligned with each compartment, a control plate mounted for oscillation upon the upper surface of the cover plate and having sets of openings selectively alignable with the openings of the cover plate when the control plate is shifted to opposite sides of a central neutral position, a pair of levers engaging the control plate and each operable to shift the control plate to one side of said neutral position and push buttons controlling the operation of the levers, a plate secured to and supported by said cover plate supporting said push buttons and levers, the outer wall of the container having a groove into which said plate extends, and a cap engaged with the container securing the cover plate in position thereon and maintaining said supporting plate in position within the groove. f

3. In combination, a condiment container formed to provide two compartments, a cover plate sealing they container and having openings aligned with each compartment, a control plate mounted for oscillation upon the upper surface of the cover plate and having sets of openings selectively alignable with the openings of the cover plate when the control plate is shifted to opposite sides of a central neutral position, Y

a pair of levers engaging the control plate and each operable to shift the control plate to one side of said neutral position and push buttons controlling the operation of the levers, a plate secured to and supported by said cover plate supporting said push buttons and levers, the outer wall of the container having a groove into which said plate extends, and a cap engaged with the container securing the cover plate in position thereon and maintaining said supporting plate in position within the groove, a cover plate secured to the supporting plate and through which the heads of the push buttons extend, said cap engaging the upper end of said supporting plate to urge the supporting plate downwardly, the lower end of the supporting plate having a groove receiving a rib formed upon the lower end of the slot of the container to maintain the lower end of said cover plate in position.

4c. In combination, a condiment container formed to provide two compartments, a cover plate sealing the container and having openings aligned with each compartment, a control plate mounted for oscillation upon the upper surface of the cover plate and having sets of openings selectively alignable with the openings of the cover plate when the control plate is shifted to opposite sides of a central neutral position, a pair of levers mounted upon spaced pivots and having their ends forked, a pin carried by the control plate, means normally maintaining the levers in a position in which both receive the pin of the cover plate andthe fork thereof, the openings of the forks of said levers being disposed in the Plane of movement of the pin whereby said pin when returned to the neutral position by a lever through which it has been operated is en- Jered in the opening of the fork of the other ever.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aHiX my signature.

CARL G. NEI-ILS. 

